VIRGINIA TRIOLI, HOST: Joining you first of all, is the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, who just delivered a powerful and moving message to the country upon hearing of the death of the sovereign. Anthony Albanese, good morning, and thank you for your time.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Virginia.

TRIOLI: It must have been a shock to wake up to.

BRENDAN JONES, HOST: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

AMANDA KELLER, HOST: Oh, hello, Anthony. I've been in tears all day. How are you feeling?

ANTHONY ALBANESE. PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Well, it's been quite a shock, even though the Queen, of course, led such a long life, it was as if she would be with us forever. So when I received the call, very early this morning to expect a call from the Governor-General, and was put on a bit of notice. It was quite a shock.

PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: As we've been hearing this morning, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second has died. Tributes are coming from around the world as leaders honour the monarch who defined an era in her 70 year reign. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins me now. Prime Minister, welcome.

PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE: Good morning, Patricia.

KARVELAS: This is a sad day around the world. What are your reflections on the Queen?

The sails of the Sydney Opera House will be illuminated tonight in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Prime Minister of Australia and NSW Premier have announced.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the lighting the sails of the Sydney Opera House as a fitting tribute to Her late Majesty.

“The late Queen Elizabeth the Second played an important role to the people of Australia during her reign and the lighting of the Sydney Opera House is a fitting tribute on behalf of the people of Australia,” said Mr Albanese.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Japan from 26 to 28 September to attend the State Funeral for Mr Abe Shinzo AC, former Japanese Prime Minister.

Former Prime Ministers, the Hon John Howard OM AC, the Hon Tony Abbott AC and the Hon Malcolm Turnbull AC, all of whom worked with Mr Abe during his two terms as Japanese Prime Minister, will join the official delegation.

Mr Abe’s State Funeral will be attended by past and present world leaders, foreign dignitaries, colleagues and family—in honour of his leadership and immense contribution on the international stage.

DIANE SMITH-GANDER, CEDA: Well, thank you very much, Prime Minister. There was a great deal in there and I would just love to talk about forever about gender equity. But you and I have talked about that a great deal before. You also talked about Question Time. I hate Question Time, I've got to say. It just seems like a waste of a very short period of time that our elected representatives have together. So point-scoring just doesn't do it for me. But you know that as well, we've talked about that before also. But there is a question here in the pigeon hole.

The Albanese Government’s landmark Climate Change Bills have now passed the Senate, ensuring Australia's emissions reduction target of 43 per cent and net zero emissions by 2050 will be enshrined in legislation.

For almost a decade, Australia stumbled from one policy to another, and our economy and communities missed out on billions of dollars in public and private clean energy investment. But today that changes.

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth the Second, an historic reign and a long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service has come to an end.

The Government and the people of Australia offer our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are grieving for a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother—the person whom for so long was their greatest inner strength.

Australian hearts go out to the people of the United Kingdom who mourn today, knowing they will feel they have lost part of what makes their nation whole.

Good morning

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth the Second, an historic reign and a long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service has come to an end.

This is a morning of sadness for the world, for the Commonwealth and all Australians.

It is a day of profound sadness and grief for the Royal Family who have lost a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

The person who for so long was their greatest inner strength.

BEN FORDHAM, HOST: You're listening to Ben Fordham on 2GB, and I believe we're about to speak live to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He's on the line right now. Prime Minister, good morning to you.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Ben, on what is a very sad day for Australia, for the Commonwealth and indeed for the world.